Follow the Clockworks

Chapter 2

Alfred stood next to Matthew at the castle doors, watching as the boy from earlier stepped back when he was asked for his name. If he looked like he was angry before, he was furious now. But as the man approached, Arthur as Yao has announced, Alfred noticed he looked more terrified than Matthew. He could understand why, at least Matthew had him, but Arthur was almost being forced to leave his family behind. Yao walked behind Arthur as the two of them walked toward Matthew and he. Arthur glared at Alfred as he walked up to him.

Yao looked between the three for a moment before commanding them to follow him into the throne room to meet the previous Queen. Alfred walked close to Matthew, looking around the gallant castle walls. Yao opened two large blue doors, a spade painted between them. Inside, two thrones sat, one slightly more extravagant than the other, but not differing in royal shades of blue and practically covered in spades. On the slightly smaller throne to the right, sat a women of about fifty or sixty, smiling with a wrinkled face, mirth gleaming in her eyes.

She was the prettiest women Alfred had ever seen. Not aesthetically, he'd seen much fairer girls being courted throughout the city. But the Queen, or former Queen, smiled a knowing smile. A true happiness shined in her eyes, as if saying 'it may not seem so great now, but you will be a great reign'. Alfred had only ever saw the Queen once before, when he was six and before his father had died.

"You will make a great impact on Spades, I can see it in the bond between you three."

Alfred was confused by the statement, what bond did Matthew and he have to Arthur? Alfred looked over to Arthur for an answer, but found that Arthur looked on at the Queen with an enraged gaze. Alfred didn't know what the Queen had said to upset Arthur, but she hadn't just upset him, he looked like he was ready to kill.

Arthur continued to look at the Queen for a moment, but the moment he opened his mouth, ready to finally speak his mind Alfred lurched into action and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back towards himself. "What will be our duties as royalty?" he inquired, tightening his grip on Arthur's forearm as he smiled at the Queen.

Arthur had wanted to say something to the Queen, but was abruptly stopped by Alfred. He winced at the tight hold on his arm and jerked it away. His eyes were still on the Queen who just smiled at them.

"Well," The Queen started, "nothing at first. But before anything officially happens my Jack needs to give you three some simple lessons on Spade's history of royals and quick training. The Ace will have separate training from the King and Queen. The jobs are very different so we will have a different training process for you." She smiled at Matthew before shifting her focus onto the two other boys. "After all the lessons and training the formal coronation will take place. Since my King is sadly no longer here, Yao will work with the new King to show him what his specific duties are. I will work with the new Queen. Their tasks are very different from each other so I'm not exactly sure what your duties are. I only know the Queens."

She stood from her throne and elegantly walked down the stairs leading from the thrones and stood in front of all three. Her smile was sweet as she told them they will be great rulers of the kingdom. The Queen then ordered for the Jack to show the three their new rooms as she went off to attend to some private matters of her own. The Jack bowed to her as she left and told the boys to follow him. As they were shown the way to their rooms the Jack spoke to them about many things, but Arthur paid no mind to them. He was angry and confused about everything that had happened.

'Why me?" He thought. "Why was I chosen to be Queen? I'm nothing special and I sure as hell can't run a bloody kingdom! I don't understand any of this...'

Arthur's thoughts stopped when he reached two large doors and was told that this was where the King and Queen would sleep together and the Ace's sleeping quarters were just down the hall. This instantly caught Arthur's attention